Children 2 or older are required to have their own seat, a ticketed adult fare. Children under 5 can't travel alone under any circumstances.
People Also Ask
Typically, minors under the age of 18 do not have to present identification for domestic U.S. travel. Airlines will accept identification from the responsible adult on behalf of the minor(s). For international travel, minors under the age of 18 must present the same travel documents as the adult.
How much does a child ticket cost? The price of a child ticket will differ from airline to airline. Some airlines offer discounted prices for children, whereas others have a flat fare for adults and children. On average, discounted airline tickets for children are around 25—33% cheaper than adult tickets.
Most U.S. airlines will permit children who have reached their fifth birthday to travel unaccompanied. Kids ages 5 through 11 who are flying alone must usually travel pursuant to special “unaccompanied minor” procedures. On some airlines, these procedures are required for unaccompanied children as old as 14.
Our Unaccompanied Minor program is only for children ages five through 11 years old. Children 12 and older are allowed to travel independently as Young Travelers. However, you should decide whether a Young Traveler is capable of and comfortable with doing all of the following independently: Navigating all airports.
While we do not offer child fares, a little one under two years old may be carried free of charge (taxes apply outside U.S.) when traveling with an adult (12 years of age or older) as a lap baby.
American Airlines Child FareChildren over the age of 2 must have their own seats, and they will be charged full fare. There is no discounted child fare on American Airlines.
When you travel with a child under 2 years of age, you may choose to travel with the child on your lap (infant-in-arms) for free on all flights within the United States. Our step-by-step guide explains how to easily add an infant-in-arms to your ticket yourself.
In addition, Southwest Airlines offers two special fares for children: Infant Fare and Child Fare. Offering very affordable Infant Fares, Southwest Airlines sustains the FAA recommendation that babies under 40 pounds be secured in an appropriate child restraint system when traveling by air.
Will minors need an ID to fly domestically? Neither Southwest Airlines nor the TSA require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States. There is, however, an exception for Unaccompanied Minors traveling on Southwest Airlines.
We may ask for age verification at any point within your journey, so you should travel with the documentation. If asked to provide proof of age and unable to do so, Customers will be required to purchase a ticket for the child.
Babies and infants younger than 2 years old may fly free of charge on a parent's lap (without their own seat). Children older than 2 years old must fly in their own assigned seat, meaning you will have to purchase a ticket for them.
Related: Why you should travel while your baby is an infantIf you have a trip that spans your child's second birthday, only the outbound flight will be free. On the return flight, you will be required to purchase your now-2-year-old a seat with a one-way ticket.
Although children who have not reached their second birthday are permitted to travel as lap children, the FAA strongly discourages this practice and recommends that you secure your child in an approved CRS in their own seat for the entire flight.